Power amplifier module for wireless communication devices

Abstract

A power amplifier module for amplifying radio frequency signals includes a radio frequency power amplifier including one or more semiconductor transistors, adapted to receive an input radio frequency signal and power control signals, and to output an amplified radio frequency signal. The power amplifier module is integrated with input and output impedance matching networks and a power sensor that is adapted to receive the amplified radio frequency signal and to output a signal indicating the power output level of the power amplifier module. The power amplifier module also includes control logic in accordance to at least one of the qualities and the power level of the amplified radio frequency signal.

1. A power amplifier module for amplifying radio frequency signals, comprising:
 a) a radio frequency power amplifier including one or more semiconductor transistors, adapted to receive an input radio frequency signal and a processed power-sensing control signal, and to output an amplified radio frequency signal;  
 b) a power-sensing circuit adapted to receive the amplified radio frequency signal and to output the power-sensing control signal;  
 c) a control logic that receives and processes the power-sensing control signal, and outputs a processed power-sensing control signal in response to a quality or a magnitude of the amplified radio frequency signal;  
 d) a mode control circuit coupled to the radio frequency power amplifier to control power of the radio frequency power amplifier;  
 e) an electronic circuit including the radio frequency power amplifier, the power-sensing circuit and the control logic, said electronic circuit having an electrically conductive base; and  
 f) a multi-layer three dimensional substrate having a conductive layer adapted to bond with the electrically conductive base.  
 
     
     
       2. The module of  claim 1  wherein the quality of the amplified radio frequency signal includes one or more of inter-modulation components of the amplified radio frequency signal. 
     
     
       3. The module of  claim 1  wherein the quality of the amplified radio frequency signal includes Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), Bit Error Rate (BER), or Packet Error Rate (PER). 
     
     
       4. The module of  claim 1  wherein the magnitude of the amplified radio frequency signal includes one or more of the gain, the voltage, the current, and the power of the amplified radio frequency signal. 
     
     
       5. The module of  claim 1  wherein the radio frequency power amplifier outputs the amplified radio frequency signal under the control of a bias signal. 
     
     
       6. The module of  claim 5  wherein the bias signal is controlled by the power-sensing control signal. 
     
     
       7. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the impedance of the external circuit that provides the input radio frequency signal is matched by an input impedance matching circuit. 
     
     
       8. The module of  claim 1 , wherein the impedance of external circuit that receives the amplified radio frequency signal is matched by an output impedance matching circuit. 
     
     
       9. The module of  claim 1  wherein the conductive layer includes a central metal land adapted to bond with the electrically conductive base of the electronic circuit, said central metal land connected with metal pins at the corners of the conductive layer. 
     
     
       10. The module of  claim 9  wherein the central metal land and the metal pins of the conductive layer includes a plurality of via holes through the upper layers in the multilayer three-dimensional substrate. 
     
     
       11. A wireless communication device for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, comprising
 a) a power amplifier module for amplifying radio frequency signals, comprising: 
 a radio frequency power amplifier including one or more semiconductor transistors, adapted to receive an input radio frequency signal and a processed power-sensing control signal, and to output an amplified radio frequency signal;  
 a power-sensing circuit including a control logic adapted to receive and process the amplified radio frequency signal and to output the processed power-sensing control signal in response to a quality or a magnitude of the amplified radio frequency signal; and  
 an electrically conductive base, and  
 
 b) an antenna adapted to provide the input radio frequency signal to the power amplifier module and to receive the output radio frequency signal from the power amplifier module; and  
 c) a mode control circuit coupled to the radio frequency power amplifier to control power of the radio frequency power amplifier;  
 d) a multi-layer three dimensional a substrate having a conductive layer adapted to bond with the electrically conductive base.  
 
     
     
       12. The module of  claim 11  wherein the quality of the amplified radio frequency signal includes one or more of inter-modulation components of the amplified radio frequency signal. 
     
     
       13. The module of  claim 11  wherein the quality of the amplified radio frequency signal includes Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), Bit Error Rate (BER), or Packet Error Rate (PER). 
     
     
       14. The module of  claim 11  wherein the magnitude of the amplified radio frequency signal includes one or more of the gain, the voltage, the current, and the power of the amplified radio frequency signal. 
     
     
       15. The module of  claim 11 , further including an input impedance matching circuit and/or an output impedance matching circuit. 
     
     
       16. The module of  claim 11 , further including a base band processor and/or a RF transceiver. 
     
     
       17. A power amplifier module for amplifying radio frequency signals, comprising:
 a) an electronic circuit including 
 i) a radio frequency power amplifier including one or more semiconductor transistors, adapted to receive an input radio frequency signal and a power-sensing control signal, and to output an amplified radio frequency signal;  
 ii) a power-sensing circuit adapted to receive the amplified radio frequency signal and to output the power-sensing control signal;  
 iii) an electrically conductive base; and  
 iv) a mode control circuit coupled to the radio frequency power amplifier to control power of the radio frequency power amplifier;  
 
 b) a three dimensional substrate having a conductive layer adapted to bond with the electrically conductive base.  
 
     
     
       18. The module of  claim 17  wherein the conductive layer includes a central metal land adapted to bond with the electrically conductive base of the electronic circuit, said central metal land being connected with metal pins at the corners of the conductive layer. 
     
     
       19. The module of  claim 17  wherein the central metal land and the metal pins of the conductive layer includes a plurality of via holes through the upper layers in the three-dimensional substrate.